General Discussion

Nye Bevan

(25,406 posts)

6. Bricks and mortar stores need to move with the times, or die.

Fri Aug 1, 2014, 09:56 AM

Aug 2014

You can't just keep the same old business model and have Amazon undercut you and steal all your business. You need to offer something that Amazon cannot. Why not start up a "genius bar" type of thing but for non-Apple products too? With free coffee? Why not offer 10-minute, guaranteed flawless installation of screen protectors on smartphones and tablets? (Something that would definitely have brought me into my local Radio Shack). How about same-day local delivery from stores?

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

69 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Radio shacks days are numbered [View all] Liberal_in_LA Aug 2014 OP

They have a good inventory system. They should place the inventory online & let the closest local Sunlei Aug 2014 #1

I'm shocked they made it through the last decade. tridim Aug 2014 #2

Consumer electronics - Amazon and Newegg; electronics parts - DigiKey or Mouser IDemo Aug 2014 #3

where are you going to go to get 3 npn2222s, 6 2k resistors, and a handful of LEDs on the fly? 0rganism Aug 2014 #33

We have a fair inventory of the standard items already IDemo Aug 2014 #34

fair point, if you already work in an electronics lab/shop, you're set 0rganism Aug 2014 #41

Yep, I use the same sources you do. I also use Allied Electronics from time to time. I always RKP5637 Aug 2014 #53

Allied, Newark, many of them out there IDemo Aug 2014 #56

Thanks for the link! n/t RKP5637 Aug 2014 #58

The guy who finished crashing Radio Shack is now co-CEO of Market Basket MannyGoldstein Aug 2014 #4

By the laws of averages and statistics, he is due for some good luck next time around. Nye Bevan Aug 2014 #9

Al Dunlap Did! ProfessorGAC Aug 2014 #36

I always liked the store, but they price themselves out of the business bhikkhu Aug 2014 #5

Yes, I just needed a headphone extension cable. gvstn Aug 2014 #46

Bricks and mortar stores need to move with the times, or die. Nye Bevan Aug 2014 #6

And pretty much missed the Maker Movement. Doh ! C_U_L8R Aug 2014 #7

Who goes to a store for a cellphone, anyway? Nye Bevan Aug 2014 #10

I did, for one derby378 Aug 2014 #64

It would be a shame to lose radio shack Renew Deal Aug 2014 #8

Their inventory sucks these days, You can get anything online they have + more snooper2 Aug 2014 #16

Yes, but online has a 1 day wait time... Renew Deal Aug 2014 #17

well, until they close you can still waste gas going over there to find out they don't have snooper2 Aug 2014 #22

lol Renew Deal Aug 2014 #25

Even CEO Can't Figure Out How RadioShack Still In Business Orrex Aug 2014 #11

Not surprised here.. SoCalDem Aug 2014 #12

That always annoyed me no end. Buns_of_Fire Aug 2014 #18

I agree yeoman6987 Aug 2014 #19

I used to use 867-5309 n/t IDemo Aug 2014 #20

Yes, and 1313 Mockingbird Lane. :) JNelson6563 Aug 2014 #26

lol Liberal_in_LA Aug 2014 #69

When clerks ask my zip code it's always "90210" (nt) Nye Bevan Aug 2014 #39

A shame - their locations are convenient to me, and I go there for things. closeupready Aug 2014 #13

I agree. There was a Radio Shack almost around the corner RebelOne Aug 2014 #38

way overpriced even if you need it today pstokely Aug 2014 #61

Five or so years ago, when I still bought parts from them, they offered a quantity based discount CBGLuthier Aug 2014 #14

OH SHIT!!! ChisolmTrailDem Aug 2014 #15

fear not: tubesandmore.com kysrsoze Aug 2014 #23

OH SHIT!!! ChisolmTrailDem Aug 2014 #28

Tubes are also preferred by many discerning hifiguy Aug 2014 #43

Maybe it is age, but I sold my tube stuff, B&W speakers, etc. I swear I am hearing Hoyt Aug 2014 #54

Then you must have had some really messed up tube stuff Elwood P Dowd Aug 2014 #57

Nearfield is exactly it, and I like it much better. Taste, needs change. Hoyt Aug 2014 #59

Eeyup. Old, worn out tubes hifiguy Aug 2014 #60

Actaully for tubes it's not just 2nd order harmonics, but..... Rocket_Scientist65 Aug 2014 #32

You Sure About That? ProfessorGAC Aug 2014 #37

A good page to calculate harmonics CBGLuthier Aug 2014 #55

Pahahaha NuclearDem Aug 2014 #30

They have been in a state of turmoil since the TRS-80s became obsolete. Baitball Blogger Aug 2014 #21

Wait a minute...what are you trying to say? IDemo Aug 2014 #24

TRS-80 was the first transformer. Baitball Blogger Aug 2014 #27

TRS DOS on my Zilog Z80 forever! Jackpine Radical Aug 2014 #29

I loved Z-80 machine language. So many registers! (nt) Nye Bevan Aug 2014 #40

I bought a computer a few months ago from Radio Shack Horse with no Name Aug 2014 #31

Record Stores, Video Stores otohara Aug 2014 #35

records have come back a bit. target sells avrecord player Liberal_in_LA Aug 2014 #47

i used to love spooking around in Radio Shack when I was a hifiguy Aug 2014 #42

That's sad. Delphinus Aug 2014 #44

As an actual radio hobbyist of the sixties.. sendero Aug 2014 #45

I remember buying my first 286 (?) computer at RS for $2000. Hoyt Aug 2014 #62

They're still around? Garthem Aug 2014 #48

there are many in los angeles Liberal_in_LA Aug 2014 #49

We have plenty here in NYC. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #50

i'm surprised they have lasted as long as they have , they should have gone out with circuit city JI7 Aug 2014 #51

Radio Shack wouldn't make it even if the economy was doing very well JI7 Aug 2014 #52

And the same bastard that help destroy Radioshack is now in charge of Market Basket graywarrior Aug 2014 #63

R.S. messed up. How did they miss the boat on DJ culture explosion?! zonkers Aug 2014 #65

Bleh, I am now going to go buy something there this weekend. Motown_Johnny Aug 2014 #66

I bought something there just last night. lonestarnot Aug 2014 #67

Good for you. Motown_Johnny Aug 2014 #68